The death toll from a rare pre-winter snowstorm has risen to 10 in the northeastern United States, paralysing communities for days and dumping more than six feet of snow near Buffalo.

The death toll from a rare pre-winter snowstorm has risen to 10 in the northeastern United States, paralysing communities for days and dumping more than six feet of snow near Buffalo.

Sydney, a six year old Golden retriever, makes her way through five feet of snow from a driveway (AFP Photo)

The National Weather Service warned an extra two to three feet (60 to 90 centimetres) of "lake effect snow," created when frigid air moves over warm lake waters, could fall.

It said visibility was near zero and that thunder and lightning were likely to accompany the heaviest snow as a state of emergency and travel bans remained in place in western New York state.

The colossal snowfall has collapsed roofs, damaged homes and businesses, cancelled flights and stranded motorists for as many as two nights on the highway, including New York rock group Interpol.

Precipitation roughly equivalent to a year's supply of snow in two days has mobilised more than 5,000 people to help with snow removal and storm recovery, including the National Guard, officials said on Thursday.

The death toll from 'Winter Storm Knife' rose to 10 when two people died of exposure in Niagara County and Boston town in Erie County, officials said.

Four or five others died earlier in the storm while working to clear mounds of heavy snow from their cars and homes, and the blizzard could yet prompt a federal disaster declaration.